Typographical machine



Jan. ]925- I 1,523,563

R. A. SNODGRASS TYPOGRAPHI CAL MACHINE Filed Dec. 4, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR BY Z ATORNEYS jam, 2%, i 925. v D

' R. A. SNODG RASS TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE Filed Deb. 4, 1925 Patented Jan. 20, 1925.

[IN [T ED STAT E S P A' I' E NT OFFICE.

ROBERT ALEXANDER SNODGRASS, or TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, AssIGNoR T0 MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE.

Application filed December 4, 1923.

To all 1071 am it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT ALEXANDER SNonGnAss, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Toronto, Province of Ontario, and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Typographical Machines, of whichv the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typographical machines such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,539., wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print, and then assembled in line together with spacers, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, and the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon. After casting, the line is carried upward and shifted into what is commonly known as the upper transfer channel, where the matrices are lifted from the line and delivered to a distributing mechanism which returns them to the magazine or magazines from which they started. The spacers, which remain suspended upon rails in the transfer channels, are then acted upon by a transfer device having a hookshaped finger which draws the spacers along the supporting rails into their storage magazine. As the transfer device is thus constructed, it frequently happens, particularly when full length or 30 em lines are being handled, that the spacers become dislodged from or twisted out of place on the supporting rails and thereby interfere with the proper operation of the machine, or cause damage to the parts.

The present invention is intended to obviate the foregoing difficulties and contemplates the provision of means whereby the spacers, without regard to their number or position, are first brought together or compacted and then retained in such relation during their delivery to the magazine. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the hook-shaped finger, above referred to, is provided with a yielding which is adapted, during the outward movement of Serial No. 678,493.

the transfer device, to engage a row of spacers at the right andpush them together and thereafter close in upon the spacers to retain them in compact relation during the delivery movement of the transfer device.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown only in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to the specific style of machine mentioned, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein, and in its mode of application, which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a linoty'pe machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the improved transfer device, partly in section, indicating its action in picking up and delivering a row of spacers;

F ig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view, partly broken away, of the improved transfer finger; and

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. l, the matrices X are released from their magazine A and the spacers Y from their magazine A by keyboard mechanism (not shown) and composed in line in the assembler B, in the usual way. The assembler is then manually elevated and trips the delivery slide G, which thereupon shifts the composed line through the intermediate channel D into the first elevator E. The elevator R then descends with the line to the casting position, and, after the slug is cast, rises to its uppermost position, where a slide F, operated by a lever F pushes the line into the upper transfer channel G. During this transfer of the line, the matrices X pass onto the second elevator bar H, which later carries them upwardly for distribution, while the spacers Y are supported by their projecting ears upon a pair of rails G within the channel G. After the matrices have been carerating lever J pivoted to the machine frame, as at-J and loosely connected near its lower end by means of a link F to the slide-operating lever F which latter is keyed or otherwisesecured to a transverse rock shaft F This shaft F extends rearwardly and carries an arm F provided with a roller F tracking upon a face cam K against which'it is held by a spring F". Normally, the parts just described occupy the positions indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, but during the rotation ofthe cam K, the slide F and finger J are brought together, as shown in full lines, the jaw J be ing bevelled off at one side so as to pass over the tops of the spacers and drop in behind the row. As the cam K completes its rotation, the parts are restored to their normal position and the spacers thereby transferred by the finger J to their magazine A The parts so far described and their mode of operation are or may be substantially the same as set forth in the Mergenthaler patent above referred to, or as presented in the commercial linotype machine. Ordinarily, the spacers, in being transferred from the channel G, are moved together from the left by the slide F before they are engaged by the transfer finger J, provided the line is a short one or one wherein the spacers occupy a position to the left of the meeting point of those parts. However, when the line is a long one, some of the spacers occupy a position beyond the reach of the slide F, and such spacers are therefore subject to displacement or twisting,'either when engaged by the finger J as the latter passes over them in its outward movement, or during the delivery movement.

As beforestated, the present invention is intended to obviate the foregoing objections and contemplates the provision of means to keep the spacers from swinging out of position under the conditions stated. To this end, the transfer finger J is provided on its under side with a furtherright-hand jaw J 5 mounted to slide horizontally on a guide plate J 6 fastened to the finger. A compression spring J engagingbehind the said jaw, holds it yieldingly against a stop or shoulder J of the plate J". The two jaws J and J are thus normally held a certain distance apart in order to permit the jaw J 5 to function in the desired manner. The action of the parts will now be clear. As bestshown in Fig. 2, when the slide F and finger J approach each other, those spacers standing to the left of'their meeting point are pushed toward the right by the slide F, while those spacers standing to the right of such meeting point are pushed toward the left by the. jaw J the spacers being thus brought together in compact relation. If need be, the jaw J 5 will yield against the action of its spring J 7 to permit the slide F and finger J to come together, at which timethe lefthand jaw J will have passed over and dropped behind the first spacer of the row in readiness for the transfer .movement which immediately takes place. As the transfer movement begins, the slideF recedes and the jaw J 5 moves over under the action of the spring J 7 and grips the spacers between it and the fixedjaw J thereby retaining the spacers in compact relation throughout the delivery movement, see the dotted-line showing in Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: p

1. In a typographical machine, the combination of a spacer magazine, a transfer device for delivering the spacers thereto, and means associated with the said device to re-. tain the'spacers in compact relation during their delivery to the magazine.

'2. In a linotype machine, the combination of a spacer magazine, a transfer channel provided with spacer supporting rails leading to the magazine, a transfer d'evicefor carrying the spacers along said rails to the magazine, and means associated with said transfer device to hold the spacers in compact relation during their delivery to the magazine. a V r 3. In a typographical machine, the combinationof a spacer magazine, a transfer device for delivering the spacers thereto, and means whereby the spacers are brought together during the outward stroke of the transfer device and retained in compact re lation during the delivery stroke of said transfer deviceQ 4. In a typographical machine, the combination of a spacer magazine, a transfer device fordelivering spacers to the magazine,

and means carried by said device and auto- 9 matically adjustable to accommodate different numbers of spacers and hold them in compact relation during their delivery to the magazine. V

" 5. In a typographical machine, the com 3 bination of a spacer magazine, and a trans fer device for delivering spacers thereto, the said device having rightand left-hand jaws between which the spacers are retained in compact relation during their delivery to the magazine.

6. In or for a linotype machine, a spacer transfer finger having rightand left-hand spacer-engaging jaws, one fixed and the other spring-pressed toward the fixed jaw, for thepurpose described. i

7. I11 or for a linotype machine, aspacer transfer finger provided with two spacerengaging jaws, one fixed and the other spring-pressed toward the fixed jaw, and a stop to limit the approaching movement of said spring-pressed jaw.

8. In a linotype machine, the combination of the line transfer slide F, and the spacer transfer finger J, the latter being provided with the fixed aw J and the spring-pressed jaw J, all operating substantially in the 10 manner set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this second day of November, 1923.

ROBERT ALEXANDER SNODGRASS. 

